A video is circulating widely on social media platforms and YouTube, accompanied by a shocking narrative. The claim asserts that a 49-year-old priest in Andhra Pradesh intentionally jumped from a high mountain peak to his death because he believed he possessed divine powers and wanted to prove to his followers that he could fly.
Media outlets, prominently including Republic TV's YouTube channel (@RepublicWorld), also shared this video with the exact same misleading claim.
WHAT IS THE TRUTH?
We at YouTurn investigated this viral claim and found that the narrative being shared alongside the video is completely false and fabricated. The video does not show a man trying to fly; rather, it captures a fatal accident.
By looking into the origins of the footage, we found that the incident actually took place in August 2021 at the Gampa Mallaiah Swamy Hill in the Singanamala mandal of Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. The 49-year-old priest, identified as Appa Papayya, was performing a customary ritual on top of a narrow, oil-soaked hillock during the holy month of Shravan.
While performing the traditional puja on the steep edges of the hillock, the priest unfortunately slipped, lost his balance, and fell into a deep 40-foot ravine. According to official police statements, media reports, and the First Information Report (FIR) registered at the time, the incident was confirmed to be purely an accidental fall. The local police formally registered a case of accidental death.
There is absolutely no record, official statement, or eyewitness account stating that the priest claimed to possess divine powers, nor did he make any attempt to fly. The viral claim, which was heavily propagated online and carelessly amplified by major networks like Republic TV, is simply a false spin on a tragic real-life event.
CONCLUSION We conclude that the claim asserting an Andhra Pradesh priest jumped to his death to prove he could fly is false. The video depicts the tragic accidental death of Appa Papayya, a 49-year-old priest who lost his footing and fell into a gorge while performing customary rituals at Gampa Mallaiah Swamy Hill in August 2021.